AKICOWA ends one week training in Uyo

A cross section of participants at the week-long Training

Akwa Ibom Co-operative Women Alliance (AKICOWA) ended its week-long Training of Trainers workshop last week in Uyo. The  closing ceremony took place at St. Michael’s Primary School, where the women gathered to appraise the value of the trainings they received in Catfish Fingerlings Production and Hatchery Management. In an address presented by the president of AKICOWA, Princess Nkereuwem Ekpe, she said that the training was aimed at building the capacity of members and to help them acquire useful skills in the production of catfish fingerlings and management of hatchery as well as promoting entrepreneurship among women with a view to alleviating poverty and its attending hazards on the family, especially the girl-child.

Princess Ekpe added that AKICOWA has the vision to raise a generation of women entrepreneurs who will be key players in building a strong and vibrant economy in Nigeria.  She advocated that women be supported to adequately develop themselves, and access  credit to launch their businesses.
She used the opportunity to appreciate the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel for creating a conducive economic environment in the state; and his efforts in the area of job creation, which according to her, can be seen in the sponsorship of youths to Israel for training in agriculture, and expressed optimism that very soon, it will be the turn of the women to also benefit from His Excellency’s vision of sustainable empowerment of the masses.  She appreciated the International Partners and Facilitators of the programme for their efforts and commitment to the success of the programme, which she said will leave a lasting legacy in the lives of the women.
The President sued for government support, as well as support from international agencies to enable them acquire those facilities that will boost their skills for result-oriented performances.
Responding, the representatives of the International Partners and facilitators of the programme, Prof. Joe Sullivan and Mr.  Blessing expressed delight for the numerical strength of AKICOWA and encouraged the women to work hard in order to succeed in their co-operative endeavours.  They pledged continuous support for the women and promised a return visit to carry out impact assessments on the performances of the women in trainings they acquired.
On her part, the Director, Bureau of Co-operative, Mrs. Victoria Okon commended the women for finding time to participate in the training, which according to her, would afford them the opportunity of working together, sharing ideas and common approach to business to reposition themselves for a better living and become effective business model.
She urged the women to cultivate the habit of book-keeping and strife to put the trainings they received into useful practice.
Highpoint of the event was issuance of certificates to more than one hundred women who took part in the training.